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The book “Principles and Practices of Thyroid Gland Disorders” jointly edited by Dr Subhash K Wangnoo, Professor Jamal Ahmad, and Dr Mohammad A Siddiqui is a welcome addition to the existing monographs on the subject. The available literature from the areas well-sufficient in iodine certainly cannot depict the real nature and spectrum of problem as seen in this country. This monograph certainly would fill up this gap. The book would serve the needs of internist, specialists, subspecialists, and research scholars.

Today, data on thyroid physiology and hormone action are accumulating in a longitudinal phase. The genes for thyroid hormone production and iodine metabolism have been cloned. Such advances have necessitated the need to keep ourselves updated. Thyroid hormone dysregulation in other associated diseases needs to be well understood and interpreted by the internists.

The widely available facility of thyroid hormone assays in every nook and corner of the country (with probably no quality control) have added to the confusion. It is possibly the single most important factor for the wide misuse of thyroid hormones in patients who are otherwise clinically euthyroid or have borderline abnormalities not necessitating intervention. The chapters in the book on laboratory evaluation of thyroid function, dilemmas and pitfalls, and on drugs which affect thyroid physiology are welcome inclusion. Similarly, other areas of thyroid disorders including malignancy, thyroiditis, neonatal and pediatric thyroid dysregulation, and similar others are well detailed and elucidated. The book provides a compendium of thyroid physiology and hormone dysregulation.

The editors have well-chosen the authors who represent the doyens as well as upcoming experts in the field of endocrinology. The lucid, comprehensive, and cohesive description of the chapters well reviewed and indexed makes it a pleasurable reading. The book would certainly be a welcome addition to the personal libraries and bookshelves. It would be a bench reference book for all those who are practicing and have interest in thyroidology.

JK Agrawal MD DM FAMS FICP FFIACM

Former President, Endocrine Society of India

Former Professor and Head, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Former Head, Department of Medicine

Former Medical Superintendent, SS Hospital

Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi, Indiafm12

fm13PREFACE

The prevalence of thyroid disorders is increasing day by day. However, many of these still go unrecognized or are not managed appropriately due to the lack of knowledge and awareness among the physicians and the treating doctors. This has been the driving force behind the conception of our book “Principles and Practices of Thyroid Gland Disorders”. Although there have been many books on thyroid disorders in the past, there has always been a need for a concise handbook of practical utility. Through this book, it has been our endeavor to consolidate the various aspects related to the thyroid including, but not restricted to, the physiology, various aspects related to thyroid function tests, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules and malignancies, and drugs affecting thyroid function. The chapters have been contributed by some of the eminent endocrinologists of the country, and include their own clinical experience.

The journey from the inception of this book to its present form has not been a smooth one. Although there have been many hiccups initially resulting in delays, all is well that ends well. We wish to thank all our contributors to the book. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. have been kind enough to publish our book.

“To err is human”, and so there must be many mistakes in the current edition, which might have been overlooked despite our best efforts. Any corrections and suggestions are most welcome, which will be incorporated to improvise the book in its second edition in future.

“Knowledge without action is useless and irrelevant”

-APJ Abdul Kalam

We hope that this book will benefit the readers in enhancing their understanding and knowledge regarding thyroid disorders, and this knowledge will be put into action for the benefit of the community.